Thursday, April 26, 2012

Dust Bunnies, Socks, and a Picnic Basket


With our April weather being so cool and a bit rainy,
I've had a continuing appointment with my Annie Sloan paint.


The dust bunnies have officially taken over Heaven's Walk
and are now running rampant.
But I don't care.

It gives the husband something to do with his socks.


I've had this picnic basket in the basement for a while now,
but she was being pretty quiet.
I couldn't decide quite what to do with her...

until recently.

She was in very good shape.
Not a scratch on her.
Beautifully constructed and very sturdy,
but she was a little on the boring side.
She looked like every other picnic basket out there.

She definitely needed some ASCP love.



 

I watered down some French Linen
and slowly brushed it on,
letting some of it run down the sides. 

An hour later, 
I did the same thing with an even more watery mixture of Pure White this time,
letting it catch in the weaving. 




After letting it all dry,
I took out one of my favorite stencils and using a dark charcoal craft paint,
stenciled the lid,
and added a coat of clear wax to it for protection
and that gorgeous subtle shine it gives
after a little buffing.




She needed a wee bit of bling,
so I added a French cross as a reminder to

give thanks 

before breaking bread.








She was now ready for a picnic under the sweep of a romantic weeping willow tree
next to a dancing stream...




 Giving thanks for you today.


[ Blessings ]





Linking to the parties on the lower right of my sidebar.
Just click on the buttons.

72 comments:

  1. Very pretty, Laurie! Love her transformation. I just got the French Linen myself and tried it on a frame so far. I'm doing the side tables in the guest bedroom with it next.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Beautiful job, Laurie. You are the Queen of ASCP! They should feature your work. Maybe they did? xo

    ReplyDelete
  3. Sweet Laurie~I love your picnic basket...I can see you are loving your paint too! What a beautiful project for a rainy day! xok

    ReplyDelete
  4. Laurie-She looks beautiful. Very Frenchy indeed. Now...all she needs is a loaf of bread, a block of cheese and some DumbDog/CrazyCat wine. xo Diana

    ReplyDelete
  5. Beautiful--love the stencil and the cross!

    ReplyDelete
  6. It's beautiful. I love the Paris graphic!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Hahaha love the dust bunnies & socks! :) Ya gotta love dust bunnies sticking to your socks!
    Your basket turned out super cute! I still need to buy some of her paint & give it a try!
    xoxoox,
    Shellagh

    ReplyDelete
  8. Yes I have days with dust bunnies. Love the cute basket.

    ReplyDelete
  9. That is beautiful. wow... such creative thinking.

    ReplyDelete
  10. LOve your sweet picnic basket and the new color looks great.
    have a wonderful weekend
    ~Cheryl

    ReplyDelete
  11. Oh it's lovely. Is the coat of wax,paste in a tin, the kind you polish furniture with?:)

    ReplyDelete
  12. I love this Laurie, you're so clever! xo K

    ReplyDelete
  13. Love it! Great job!
    Linda at Beautiful Ideas

    ReplyDelete
  14. What a lovely picnic basket...enjoy a happy weekend darling.....love Ria...xxx...

    ReplyDelete
  15. Really beautiful. I recently received a pie basket that needed something. I think this will be it!

    ReplyDelete
  16. Laurie, That basket is truly beautiful. It was fine as it was , but you have turned into a thing of beauty.:):) Smiles, Susie(She Junks)

    ReplyDelete
  17. You did an amazing job turning something blah into a beautiful object. Now all you need is the nice weather to use this beautiful basket.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Oh Laurie, that is just lovely! I want that!! I will have to keep my eye out for a nice basket like this one to copy you! xo

    ReplyDelete
  19. What sort of wax do you use after using the Ann Sloan paint? Is it just wax like Johnson's paste wax? I have been wanting to try the chalk paint but don't know what kind of wax to use or where to get it. My budget is very limited, so I really can't afford the Ann sloan products. Thanks and God keep you. Cashel1916@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  20. Love the basket makeover! The French cross is a prefect finishing touch :)

    ReplyDelete
  21. beautiful, laurie! i've been tempted to paint a longaberger basket thats been sitting in a closet for years...just might do that this weekend:) thanks for the nudge:)

    ReplyDelete
  22. Perfect for your table.
    Love the stencil!
    xxoo

    ReplyDelete
  23. Une nouvelle vie bien agréable pour ce magnifique panier...
    merci de partager avec nous ces extraordinaires photos.
    Gros bisous

    ReplyDelete
  24. Yes lots of dust bunnies at our house too and I don't care either:)
    Great basket, the stencil really finished it off nicely.

    hugs
    Carole
    ps garden looks great btw

    ReplyDelete
  25. Hi Laurie...just going through Pinterest and your beautiful basket makeover popped up...I hope you don't mind, but I have the same basket and I think I'll do the same thing...It's just lovely!!...We use ours to store newspapers in our family room before we put them out to recycle each week...Have a happy weekend, Mariaelena

    ReplyDelete
  26. It is so pretty Laurie!
    How 'bout breaking it in with a romantic picnic for two as thanks to your honey for taking care of the dust bunnies?!

    ReplyDelete
  27. I love the picnic basket and it just so happens I have an old brown one! Beautiful post,Laurie.

    Carolyn

    ReplyDelete
  28. Laurie,
    Lovely picnic basket, dear one! The hopeless romantic in me was swept away to that softly flowing stream with the overhanging weeping willow! It was Heavenly, indeed!
    Fondly,
    Pat

    ReplyDelete
  29. Laurie,
    Your basket looks lovely.What a pretty soft color.And I love that bling!Have a wonderful weekend.
    Anne

    ReplyDelete
  30. I adore what you did with your basket Laurie!! You have inspired me to give mine a makeover too so hopefully soon!!
    Blessings~

    ReplyDelete
  31. Oh Laurie this is so beautiful!!! Love the colour you chose!
    That was so funny what you said about your husband's socks and the dust
    bunnies!! :)

    Pamela xo

    ReplyDelete
  32. Wow and wow. You took a boring but nice picnic basket and made it absolutely beautiful and romantic. I love romantic and dreamy and your basket is certainly that!! Fab job!!!

    ReplyDelete
  33. Wow Laurie! Your creative juices are overflowing. Love the transformation and I love what you said about the French cross. I haven't tried and Annie Sloan paints but love the look!

    ReplyDelete
  34. I love this--I just found a basket at Goodwill that I am re-doing. Thanks for the inspiration!

    ReplyDelete
  35. Great post:) Thank you for sweet words on my blog, and come back to visit soon..I have more swedish decor inspiration for you:)

    Have a awsome weekend.

    LOVE Maria at inredningsvis

    ReplyDelete
  36. Your project turned out so pretty! Thanks for sharing, Jean

    ReplyDelete
  37. Hi Laurie
    Lovley Post :)
    and do not miss....

    S
    A
    T
    U
    R
    D
    A
    Y

    S
    H
    O
    W

    O
    F
    F

    it is Fun :)
    WELCOME
    Håkan ( The Roseman)

    ReplyDelete
  38. I love this post! I have so many baskets that need a new look and I love what you did with this one. It's perfect!
    Hope you share on Simple & Sweet Fridays, the basket looks beautiful!


    Jody

    ReplyDelete
  39. Your basket turned out beautiful! Have a wonderfully blessed weekend.

    Danielle

    ReplyDelete
  40. So very pretty! I love picnic baskets...I do not love dust bunnies ;). I have plenty though!

    ReplyDelete
  41. Le'beautiful, Laurie! I've been contemplating painting (or selling) a bunch of longaberger baskets and canisters that are currently in their boring honey-colored state (and therefore collecting dust in my basement). Your basket pretty much sealed that deal. One more thing added to my list! Love your pretty hydrangeas too!

    ReplyDelete
  42. I just read your previous post called Grateful...wow Laurie, how very beautiful. I have a lump in my throat from your words! You should seriously write a book, just an inspirational little book or something...your words were so lovely and so moving.

    ReplyDelete
  43. wowza girlie. that looked awesome. you've apparently got the magic touch;)

    ReplyDelete
  44. She's perfect Laurie! You have the magic touch. That lid - oh my!

    ReplyDelete
  45. Hi Laurie,
    I came back to answer your question-no,I didn't use any special thread for the umbrella just a polyester and cotton.

    Carolyn

    ReplyDelete
  46. She's a beauty, Laurie! Hopefully, the weather will warm up soon so you can put it to use :) xo

    ReplyDelete
  47. Oh Laurie...it is just delightful! You have certainly been blessed with a gift to make the things around you more lovely!! Thanks for sharing your technique. I have some pieces that need some ASCP, too! After this next wedding...
    :o)

    Hugs and joy to you!
    Becky

    ReplyDelete
  48. laurie, I love what you have done with that basket! It's gorgeous. The cross makes it, in my opinion.

    xo

    ReplyDelete
  49. Oh the basket is just beautiful, love the paint and the stencil. Perfect for display or a picnic. Great job.

    ReplyDelete
  50. Your basket is darling...you do the most amazing makeovers.

    ReplyDelete
  51. First of all miss Laurie, I want to thank you for your beautiful visit. I am so blessed to have a sweet friend like you who visits and then comments such encouraging words. Is it not the best when we start to paint and we just can not stop, we look around the house or a new find ready to paint what ever is in sight :)
    I love the basket, and the cross is a perfect touch to all that we are blessed with knowing The Lord will provide.

    Your photos are breathtaking...I hope I am invited on your picnic, I will bring the pie.

    Lots of love to you.
    Keep inspiring all thing soulfully painted.
    xoxo
    Dore

    ReplyDelete
  52. Thanks for sharing this post on Simple & Sweet Fridays. I'm loving that basket!

    Jody

    ReplyDelete
  53. Oh Laurie, that's just beautiful! And the Cross is such an exquisite tough. You continue to inspire me with your beautiful photographs and creativity. God bless you and your girls! Shirley xxx

    ReplyDelete
  54. The basket is so much more beautiful now, she went from dab to so fab. I also love how you added the cross which also took it to the next level. You are so inspirinThanks for sharing your creative inspiration over at Sunday's Best!g, and I always get such a sense of calm here.

    ReplyDelete
  55. Hi Laurie! The basket is just lovley with the new colour. Wish you a beautiful day. Hugs & Joy // Paula

    ReplyDelete
  56. You never cease to amaze me Laurie ~~ I just knew you would come up with something special, you always do! I hope your weather is improving I'm between muck & soil. :)
    Other than that Happy May Day to you.
    Hugs Rosemary...xoxo

    ReplyDelete
  57. Absolutely fabuloso! Love it and everything ELSE you do, too! FAB! MORE THAN FAB! GREAT!

    xoRebecca

    ReplyDelete
  58. Hi ~ Your Basket is super cute ~ I just painted a basket too ~ I think your basket is much prettier.

    Sincerely,
    Michele

    ReplyDelete
  59. I am coming to Plainwell today (wed) would love to meet for lunch. PLUS I am going to ck out your new shop in Doster..call me cell 269 719 6525.. If you want to meet.. :)

    ReplyDelete
  60. Your basket is beautiful!! I can just picture the wispy willow tree and feel the warm spring breezes...aaahhhh. Wonderful job and I love the stencil on top! Have a wonderful spring-y day!

    God Bless,
    Kathleen

    ReplyDelete
  61. Wunderschöööön der Korb geworden!! ein Bijou!!!
    Lieben Dank für deine lieben Worte

    Liebste Grüsse
    Tanja

    ReplyDelete
  62. Wunderschöööön der Korb geworden!! ein Bijou!!!
    Lieben Dank für deine lieben Worte

    Liebste Grüsse
    Tanja

    ReplyDelete
  63. Your basket is amazing! Thank you so much for sharing your heart and your ideas and inspiration.

    You always make me smile!
    blessings,
    karianne

    ReplyDelete
  64. Gorgeous!! I love it. I'm definitely pinning this. Thanks for sharing at Romance on a Dime!!

    ReplyDelete
  65. Just discovered your blog through Dreamy Whites. Love the little picnic basket makeover. I know when I reporpuse or spruce up something I feel so good afterwards, as through I've rescued something that was meant to be useful (rather than forgotten), and restored it to its purpose.

    Blessings ~ Eileen @ Star's Fault

    ReplyDelete
  66. Your basket looks so lovely! I love the addition of the pretty cross. So funny about our similar basket redos. Great minds think alike! :)

    ReplyDelete

Bless you and thank you for visiting! I read each of your comments and treasure them all. So, please make sure your settings will accept emails, or leave your email address so that I can reply! ♥ Laurie